The Rise of a Ronin: A Biomutant Review

The Rise of a Ronin: A Biomutant Review

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In a world where humanity has fallen to biohazard and pollution, a different force seems to have risen. Biomutant is an excellent hack and slash game with a beautiful world to boot, as animals have mutated to the point of developing a shared language… as well as an affinity for different styles of martial arts.  For this review, I ran two playthroughs, A Hyla Sentinel and a Fip Saboteur.

Start off on the Right Foot.

Biomutant features an initial customization system that is reminiscent of standard RPGs.  Players have the choice between 6 races, each with a different base trait, allowing players to customize their playstyle despite which class they choose.  However, this choice is often an illusion as there are clear differences that make it almost impossible to play a standard magic build with a race that is designed for brute force.  Regardless, the customization system allows for redistribution of base points in a sort of give and take selector, for example, more intellect means that you may have less strength and Agility.  For my Hyla, I focused more on health and strength as I went for a full melee build.  

Ability Selector

Gameplay itself is relatively simple, and relies heavily on chaining combos, especially as players find themselves fighting larger enemies.  Each class has access to a combo of melee and ranged with different kinds of guns and weapons.  Depending on class abilities, and unlocks, more combos are available.

The mechanics change a bit as more clan weapons become available, however past this, the combat can get quite repetitive, though, still entertaining.

A New World, Kind of…

As players delve into Biomutant for the first time, they are greeted with a beautiful forest scape, with running rivers and tall trees.  The landscape is dotted with failed technology and remnants of a past civilization that nature has clearly reclaimed. Players have plenty of time to explore the vast lands they are dropped into, and through the special machines created by your allies, you are even able to explore the deadliest zones, like marching around a dead city in a giant mech.

As part of the charm, nothing is named as it should and follows a naming convention that most historians would find funny.  Items are described mainly by what they do, or how they look, for example, early in the game, players find a crowbar called the Klawbar.  Different items found around the world contain different modifiers and abilities that can convert your ki into damage or healing as well as a myriad of other effects.

As the game progresses, however, the clan areas tend to get a bit repetitive, as although there is a theme to each area, they almost all look the same.  Despite this, cultural influences are consistent with each tribe, and it is nice to see a difference between these tribal systems. 

Good or Evil

Early on in the title, players are faced with their first moral choice (of many) in the game, fittingly the first one is light or dark?  These choices are represented by actual beings, one black as night and the other is light as day. They bicker and praise the player for taking either of their sides. 

Mechanically, these choices reflect how your ronin is seen in the world, and can even lead to NPCs ignoring you if you don’t align with their beliefs. They can lock or unlock objectives accordingly and will affect every playthrough differently.  For my playthroughs, I went full dark on my Hyla, and full light on the Fip.  I found that while Dark provided me with the cooler Psi Powers, the Light side allowed me to speak with more NPC characters.

In the end, without spoiling too much, the game is open-ended enough that either path will be rewarding.

A Narrative Experience

One of the key features of Biomutant is the addition of a Narrator.  The narrator, played by David Shaw Parker, is a nice addition to a world where none of the characters speak any known languages. While there is a setting that controls how much the narrator speaks, I find that more often than not I keep the Narrator bar turned all the way up.  The performance was good, not extraordinary, but good.  What I enjoyed most is the commentary that is given as the game takes place, specifically during combat or out of cutscenes. 

A Nice Adventure

All in all, Biomutant is a fun experience and has a bit of replayability. The world is fleshed out and everything functions as it should with minimal issues. The narration is a nice touch and helps keep players grounded when there isn’t a great deal of grounding force.  I give this game an 8/10

About author

Nick Mammoliti

I enjoy long walks on the beach, followed by copious hours spent inside avoiding the sunlight. All kidding aside, as a creative person I am constantly on the lookout for an experience when I play games. I have been gaming since I could form memories and I have a preference for games with a good narrative. That being the case, Writers Mind in Halo: Reach holds a special place in my heart.

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